• March 29, 2024

Dominic Brown’s Struggles Open The Door For Francisco

Maybe it’s not what the Phillies’ front office had planned for, but Ben Francisco is looking more and more like the new starting right fielder.

For those of you who haven’t heard, Domonic Brown has been playing very poorly in the Dominican winter league. If you look at the stats, you wouldn’t even think he was playing. He has just one hit in 23 at-bats and is batting a measly .043 with an OPS of .207.

Now he didn’t put up great numbers during his 35 games with the Phillies (.210 average with 13 RBI’s), but there’s no explanation for his numbers to decline when he is just 23-years old. Actually, his numbers haven’t declined, they’re basically non-existent right now.

With that said, is Domonic Brown ready to be a starter in the majors?

My opinion is that he isn’t ready, and that’s tough for me to say because I had such high hopes for him when he was called up from the minors. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’m giving up on the kid, but if the Phillies are truly set on making a postseason run in 2011, they should not assign him as the starter entering the season.

Instead, Ben Francisco should be the one who takes over for Jayson Werth.

Brown’s weak showing in winter ball has opened up the door for the 29-year old right-handed bat.

Francisco made his major league debut back in 2007 with the Cleveland Indians, where he compiled a .274 batting average and 13 RBI’s in just 25 games.

In 2010 with the Phillies, Francisco played more left field than right field; however, it appears that he will see more time in right field next season rather than left field.

One thing that I like about Francisco is his short, compact swing, whereas Brown has an exaggerated uppercut-of-a-swing.

Major league pitchers are able to get around Brown by throwing high fastballs because he cannot simply get his bat around quick enough to catch up to a mid-90’s fastball. On the other hand, Francisco is a better hitter because of his short swing, and at the same time, is able to deliver a good amount of power behind his swing.

The Phils return eight of nine position players, a three-headed monster at the top of the pitching rotation between Roy Hallday, Cole Hamels, and Roy Oswalt, and plan to add a few pieces to aid the bullpen. Because of that, Francisco should be the opening day starter  in right field because he gives the Phils a reliable right-handed bat that breaks up the lefty-driven lineup, while bringing veteran leadership to a playoff hungry club.

Who knows, maybe Francisco is a late bloomer and his better days are ahead of him, just like Jayson Werth when he arrived in Philadelphia at 28-years old.

However, don’t count out Brown, he just needs to get his confidence back before he is thrown into the starting lineup for the reigning NL East champs – he is just 23-years old.

Kyle Phillippi

Read Previous

The NFL Made A Mistake By Not Suspending Johnson and Finnegan

Read Next

Eagles Secondary Will Be In Trouble If Samuel Can’t Go

0 0 votes
Article Rating
6 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
paulman
paulman
December 1, 2010 6:55 am

Wow…
Ben Francisco as the starting RF has me excited..
Can anyone say 3rd place in the NL East in 2011 behinf the Braves and Marlins…
How about looking at a Josh Willingham, J Francouer and or how is J Mayberry Jr playing
this Fall/Winter…
With Ibanez, Rollins, Uttley all starting to decline in performance, more injuries and just plain getting older, I don’t see the Phils winning the NL East..

BirdoBeamen
BirdoBeamen
December 1, 2010 7:13 am

I say this for the rest of the posters on this site……PAULMAN, STFU!!

Erock
Erock
December 1, 2010 9:04 am

Just like you didnt see them winning last year ?You picked the Braves all year. Roy,Roy,Cole and a hungry group of vets.Improve the b.p. and i think Lidge will continue his solid play from end of the season. Think about it…we took the Giants too the limit. They crushed the Rangers.We were the second best team in baseball and we struggled at the plate. F Uggila and whomever else the Braves have….there still young and not ready for a deep run untill 12′. We own thisdivision and anyone who knows baseball would agree.

Mayberry is doin nothing special.Bens a fine outfielder too platoon with Brown.

ChuckRob
ChuckRob
December 1, 2010 9:08 am

Man who cares about winter ball and the Dominican League. He probably doesn’t want to be there. Brown will be fine…

Erock
Erock
December 1, 2010 9:20 am

Major league managers and players trying too up there game for the majors.I.E. Dom Brown.

jakedog
jakedog
December 1, 2010 11:25 am

How a player performs in winter ball is very important to gms. This is a problem. The long, loopy swing even more so. Not using his core to power the bat ala Utley